photo by Noah K. Murray/USA Today Sports

By FRANCO PANIZO

HARRISON, N.J. — Orlando City’s playoff push became a little easier, the New York Red Bulls’ Supporters’ Shield hopes took a hit, and it was all because Cyle Larin stole the show.

Larin made MLS history on Friday night by scoring a hat-trick that paced Orlando City to a 5-2 victory over the Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena. The three-goal performance saw Larin become the MLS rookie with most goals in a season, surpassing fellow UConn player Damani Ralph’s longstanding record and giving Larin 14 on the campaign.

Making things worse for a frustrated New York side was that it finished without its head coach and with 10 players. Jesse Marsch was ejected in the 57th minute by referee Jorge Gonzalez for continuously barking about a call after stepping outside of his technical area, and centerback Matt Miazga was sent for an early shower 20 minutes later with his second yellow card.

The result pushed Orlando to 10-13-8 and left it one point shy of the Montreal Impact, which hold the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and have three games in hand. For conference leader New York, the defeat dropped the club to 14-9-6 and leaves the door open for either the Columbus Crew or New England Revolution to jump into the top spot this weekend.

After an opening 20 minutes in which New York bossed possession, Orlando City struck with the game’s first real chance. In the 23rd minute, Kaka whipped in a corner kick from the left that Cyle Larin snapped at the near post past goalkeeper Luis Robles and over front postman Connor Lade.

The Red Bulls used a set piece of their own to pull level six minutes later. Sacha Kljestan whipped in a free kick from the left that Matt Miazga met at the backpost and nodded across goal for captain Dax McCarty to push home with a diving header.

The play hurt the Lions twofold, as Seb Hines appeared to hurt his shoulder and had to be replaced. Orlando City head coach Adrian Heath shuffled his lineup as a result, inserting Carlos Rivas into the midfield, sliding Luke Boden to centerback, and dropping Brek Shea from left midfield to left back.

The changes did not come back to hurt Orlando, as Larin reclaimed the lead for his side in the 43rd minute by capping off a quick counter attack with an authoritative finish to the far corner.

McCarty almost came up with another response for the Red Bulls two minutes into first-half stoppage time, but his header was denied by the crossbar.

New York was thwarted again by the woodwork a minute later. McCarty dummied a pass that reached Kemar Lawrence down the left flank, and the ensuing cross from the Jamaican was flicked down and off the right-hand post by Bradley Wright-Phillips.

Things went from bad to worse almost immediately after the break. Alow cross from the left that was intended for an onrushing Larin was sent the wrong way and into the Red Bulls’ goal by centerback Damien Perrinelle, giving the Lions a 3-1 lead.

Making matters worse for the Red Bulls was Marsch getting ejected from the game in the 57th minute. Marsch was livid about about a call and stepped out of his technical area, and Gonzalez told Marsch to step back in the box and calm down. Marsch kept talking however, and Gonzalez dismissed him.

A minute later, Lloyd Sam trimmed the deficit when he collected a pass from substitute Gonzalo Veron in the penalty area, turned, and fired past Tally Hall.

It was as close as the Red Bulls got. Orlando City pushed the lead back up to two goals in the 61st minute by again punishing the Red Bulls’ high defensive line,

Carlos Rivas sprinted down the left before finding a wide open Larin, and the Canadian rookie made no mistake with his look, smashing a shot past the helpless Luis Robles to complete his record-breaking hat-trick and make it 4-2.

New York then lost Miazga with 13 minutes to play for a tactical foul that earned the youngster his second yellow card of the match, and Bryan Rochez took advantage of the extra space when he capped the scoring for Orlando with the game’s final kick.